Minnow bucket with dipper



Oct. 11, 1955 M. F. BAsKY MINNow BUCKET WITH DIFFER Filed Sept. 50. 1953 Matt/yew E Bas/ry INVENTolg BY MWHMW Sag! """S MINNOW BUCKET WITH DIPPER Matthew F. Basky, Ottawa, Ill. Application September 30, 1953, Serial No. 383,174

2 Claims. (Cl. 43-56) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in minnow buckets and has more particular reference to a bucket and a novel dipper which is used in conjunction therewith and which enables the user to conveniently elevate the minnows or other live bait into a handy and easily accessible position, for selection and use.

An object of the invention is to provide a minnow bucket, of any suitable construction, andwhich is characterized by a receptacle portion in which the self-serving dipper is handily mounted and wherein the over-all construction is such that the ladle portion of the dipper may be readily and reliably suspended, `teemporarily, of course, in its elevated bait serving position.

Briey summarized, the preferred embodiment of `the invention has to do with a bait bucket having a receptacle open at its top, a sleeve vertically aixed to the wall of said receptacle, the top of the sleeve being generally ush with the cooperating top edge of said receptacle, a dipper having a foraminous ladle portion normally seated in the bottom of the receptacle, a lifting and lowering handle at right angles to said ladle portion and embodying a rigid lower section connected to said ladle portion, and an upper complemental section, the adjacent cooperating ends of said sections being hingedly connected to each other, said handle being slidably mounted in said sleeve and said sections being normally in axial alignment, whereby when the lower section is slid up into and through the upper end of the sleeve, the hinged jointing connection may be intentionally broken allowing the upper section to swing to a position lateral to the lower section for temporarily suspending the ladle portion in an elevated accessible position.

In carrying out certain specitic aspects of the inventive concept a dipper is provided and is characterized by a handle embodying a rigid linearly straight lower section having a ladle portion at its lower end, a rigid linearly straight upper section having a grip at its upper end, the lower end of said upper section being hingedly joined to the upper end of said lower section, wherein said lower section is separably and adjustably connected with said ladle portion.

A further object of the invention has to do with the construction above stated wherein the ladle portion comprises a ring which is bent upon itself to provide a substantially circular frame to accommodate a net or equivalent screen the edges of which are detachably clamped on the frame and the latter having an upstanding shank equipped with a novel connector providing a ferrule and a socket member, the latter serving to accommodate the lower end of the lower rod section of the handle.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a minnow bucket with portions broken away and wherein the dipper, the prin- ICC cipal subject matter here, is operatively connected as shown in its elevated position in full lines and in its normal lowered position in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the details of the handle, the ladle portion and connecting complements;

f Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking the direction of l the arrows; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail `view in section and elevation which may be interpreted as taken approximately on the section line 4 4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. u

By way of introduction to the detailed description it is to be explained that the part of the combination structure identified as the minnow bucket may be of any suitable construction. It is here denoted by the numeral 6 and comprises an outer container 8 and an inner container 10 perforated and spaced and suitably supported and which is here ceptacle.

Insofar as the novelty in the instant case is concerned the receptacle 10 is open at the top and is provided on the interior of its wall portion with a vertically disposed assembling sleeve 12 which is preferably as shown, that' is, vertically disposed and has its upper end terminating substantially flush with the cooperating upper rim or edge of the receptacle. The lower end of the sleeve is tiared to form an enlarged mouth portion 14 to facilitate'operating the handle 16 of the raisable and lowerable dipper. As before generally described the dipper is made up of the handle means 16 and the ladle means 18. The latter is sometimes referred to simply as a net which is at right angles to the axis of the handle when the handle is in the straight position shown in Figure 2. More specifically, the ladle comprises a ring or frame of ring-like form which is denoted by the numeral 20. This is fashioned from a rod which is bent into circular form with one end bent up at right angles as at 22 to form what is conveniently referred to as an attaching shank. The other end of the rod is bent into a sort of a hook or eye 24 and this surrounds the shank and defines and provides the frame. The receiver portion comprises a net or Wire or any suitable foraminous element 26. This is suitably dished and the marginal edge portion is wrapped partly around the frame as noted at 28 in Figure 3. A split clamping band is provided and this is a resilient member and is denoted by the numeral 30 and it is channel shaped in cross section and has suitable marginal beads 32, 32. The clamping band embraces the edge portion 28 of the `netting and thus securely assembles and retains the parts to form the ladle portion.

A coupling unit is provided and this is denoted by the numeral 34 and it comprises spaced parallel tubular portions one of which is denoted at 36 and this telescopically receives the upper end portion 38 of the shank where it is welded or otherwise iixedly secured in the ferrule. The spaced parallel portion provides what is conveniently referred to here as a socket member 40. This serves to detachably and adjustably accommodate the lower end portion of the lower rod section 42 of the handle means 16. The rod is simply telescoped into the socket member and held by one or more set screws 44. The rod section is linearly straight and has a flattened upper end 46 which overlaps the corresponding iiattened end 48 on the lower end of the upper handle or rod section 50. The two flattened portions are hingedly or pivotally connected as at 52 to provide a break-joint connection. The upper end of the upper rod section is formed with a inger ring 54 for convenience of handling. The handle means is slidably mounted in the 'sleeve in an obvious manner as shown in Figure l making it possible to lift and PatentedOct. 11, 1955y `referred to as the aforementioned re` 3 lower the dipper in equally obvious manner. The dipper is in its down position as shown in phantom lines and in its elevated serving position in full line. When in the latter position the upper handle section 50 is simply dropped over to the position. shown where it locks the ladle portion in the elevated serving position` From the foregoing, the construction and operation: of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired'to limit` the invention tothe exact construction shown andr described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.,

What is claimed as, new is as follows:

1. In combination, a bait bucket housing a receptacle openv at; its top,` a sleeve vertically aixed to the wall of said receptacle, the top ofthe sleeve being generally ush with the cooperating top edge of s aid receptacle,y a dipper having 1v foraminous ladle portion normally seated in the bottom of the receptacle, a lifting and lowering handle at right, angles to said ladle portion and embodying a rigid lower section rigidly connected to said ladle portion, and

an upper complemental section, the adjacent cooperating ends of said upper and lower sections being hingedly connected to each other, said upper section being slidably mounted in said s1eeve whereby when the lower section is intentionally lifted and slid up into and through the upper end of the sleeve, the hinged connection, then above the sleeve may be intentionally broken, allowing the upper section, to swing to a position lateral to the lower section for temporarily suspending the ladle portion in an elevated accessible bait serving position.

2. For use in connection with a bait bucket, housing a receptacle which is open at the top, an attachment for said receptacle comprising,y in combination, a relatively short sleeve which is adapted to be vertically attached to the interior surface of the wall of the receptacle adjacent the upper open end of the receptacle with the upper end of the sleeve substantially ush with the cooperating upper end of the receptacle, a dipper which is vertically liftable and lowerable and adapted to be placed in the receptacle at the bottom thereof when not in use, a lifting and lowering handle at right angles to said dipper and embodying a rigid lower section rigidly connected to a peripheral portion of said dipper and eccentric to the central portion of the dipper and a complemental upper rigid section, the adjacent respective ends of said upper and lower sections being hingedly connected to each other, said upper section being designed for slidable mounting in said sleeve whereby when said dipper is in the aforementioned position said upper and lower sections assume positions in general axial alignment with each other and lie alongside the interior of the cooperating wall of the receptacle with the hingedl connection in a position within the receptacle and on a plane below the lower end of said sleeve.

References Cited in the; le of this patent UNlT ED STATES PATENTS 299,690 Sherwood June 3, 1884 523,720 Fischer July 31, 1894 1,668,835 Allen May 8, 1928 2,196,968 Bemis Apr. 16, 1940 2,593,392 Budlane et al Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 420,378 France Jan. 28, 1911 

